Discover the benefits of home care management software
Technology is continuing to transform the way in which home care is delivered. As a new franchisee, one of the key tools available to you will be home care management software. This can streamline a wide range of administrative and operational processes in your home care franchise. It enables you to manage and monitor your employees; create well-crafted care plans; enjoy improved invoicing and compliance; and enhance your communications with your workforce, clients and external organisations.
Key features of home care management software
There are many different features available from different home care software vendors. Here are a few of the most common.
Scheduling and rostering
You can automate the management of your staff rosters easily with this feature, as well as any client visits. This will save time, trouble and money – as well as enabling care professionals and managers to have real-time access to the information. The schedules can be changed easily to take account of events such as illness, holidays etc. The end result is the more smooth and co-ordinated delivery of care to your clients.
Billing and invoicing
Again, home care management software will automate and streamline billing processes, and will ensure that clients and other bodies (such as the local authority) receive accurate and timely invoices.
Client management
One of the big benefits of the software is that it provides you with a host of useful information about your clients – including their care plans and medical records – and your care professionals. This will help you to make the right management decisions at the right time.
Mobile apps for care professionals
Home care software also includes various mobile apps that can be used by your care professionals while they’re out and about. This means they can access useful information such as schedules and client details as well as keeping up-to-date records and notes as they visit clients. Some mobile apps also include call monitoring, so that you can keep a check on the progress and safety of your care professionals.
Compliance and reporting
For any home care franchise, regulatory compliance and regular reporting are mandatory requirements. Home care management software can also make a big difference here, by providing auditing tools, incident reporting, alerts and compliance management. This will ensure that you conform (and can prove you do) with the latest care policies, procedures and regulations.
Communication
Good communication is a vital aspect of home care – and software ensures that you can provide fast and clear communication across your business. This includes making sure that your clients and their families are kept in touch with the latest information; sharing the right details with the right care professionals and external bodies at the right time; and advising people of any updates to care plans.
Key benefits of home care management software
Reputable home care management software is a real boon for any franchise. It will improve the speed and accuracy of your operations by automating routine tasks and complex processes. It will therefore boost the efficiency, consistency and effectiveness of the services you provide to your clients. It also enables you to allocate your resources more easily and reduces your admin overload. And you benefit from better reporting and analytics, leading to greater insights and well-informed, data-driven decisions.
This in turn enables you to focus on your core business services – providing high quality care to your clients. The result is happier and more satisfied clients, due to the timely, personalised care they receive, and a happier, less stressed and more effective workforce.
What makes good home care management software?
A decent home care franchisor will make all the necessary considerations when choosing software for its network of franchisees, including the following.
Compatibility
The software should complement the wider IT system used by the franchise network and work collaboratively with any apps. Perhaps a fully integrated software solution would work better? This would remove the need for various apps and avoid duplication of information.
Strong features
Some software features might particularly be a priority, and the franchisor should ensure that this aspect is particularly strong in the software they choose. For example, clear communications with your workforce might be a top priority. Or perhaps managing and monitoring their schedules is particularly an area of focus? The franchisor’s choice of software should reflect this.
Privacy and security
Home care management software should have a strong level of privacy and security, maintaining confidentiality for clients and Care Professionals. It’s one of many aspects crucial for CQC compliance.
Budgetary considerations
A franchisor should be transparent about the cost of the software. There might be a licence fee, with other charges for different features on top of it. It might be charged according to the number of Care Professionals or clients you have. Information like this is crucial for effective budgeting.
Software updates
A reputable home care management software should provide regular updates. For many home care franchises, downtime simply isn’t an option and business operations must run 24/7. The franchisee should select a software that enables this.
Maintaining the software
If there are any changes to the software, such as new features, a good franchisor will communicate this to the network. Home Instead’s intranet, MyFranchise, is a resource of news and guidance for its franchisees, and it’s where they can fill themselves in on any changes to the software.
It’s crucial to have the support to get the most from the software, and that includes a dedicated team or person at the head office who is there to give advice. Home Instead’s offers franchisees the use of home care technology company Birdie and it has supported franchisees with a range of business operations. This support is underpinned by the team at National Office, who manage the implementation of the software and ensure that franchise offices keep a grip on using it effectively.
From the franchisee’s perspective, it’s useful to have one or two people to look after installing and managing the software, and ensure that employees are fully trained in its use. Fortunately, most of the better solutions are easy to use and only require a relatively short period of training.
Technology is a key part of Home Instead’s support
Home Instead is committed to the use of technology to enhance efficiency. We use technology to enhance, rather than replace, the care we give. It allows us to provide an even more personal touch to our clients.
Technological advancements in how you deliver care will help you to offer an even more quality and cost-effective service. And in the end, everyone will benefit from that – your business, your employees, and your clients and their families.